We Love God!

God: "I looked for someone to take a stand for me, and stand in the gap" (Ezekiel 22:30)

As C.S. Lewis once said, “Whatever is not eternal is eternally out of date.” It is simple logic. Why not invest myself it that which will last forever and matter most in this life? Do I have the faith to believe that? Do I have a deep satisfaction for all that God promised me in Christ Jesus, beginning now? If so, I will value that which is really valuable. And in order for that to happen, I need the Lord to continually help me to keep my gaze in the right place because the things of this world oftentimes seem so right and attractive, don’t they? It’s so easy to worship the creation over the Creator, isn’t it? But God has designed it where ultimate fulfillment is only to be found in the eternal realm. So if we choose not to go that route we are programmed for failure.
Randy Smith

Holiness and a progressively changed life are not optional. “By this we know that we have come to know him,” says John, “if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3). Mere profession of faith, unattended by good works, does not guarantee the reality of faith. We would do well to remember the rebuke of Jesus to those who professed their loyalty and cited their miraculous deeds: “I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness” (Mt. 7:23).
Sam Storms

    • Little Church With BIG Problems

    Posted on

    Little Church With BIG Problems THE LITTLE CHURCH WITH BIG PROBLEMS B8-10-6A-8 Ro. 16:16-20 R8-05-0A-7 SB1-17-3A

    Purpose: To ENCOURAGE THE CHURCH to put away all the DIVISIONS that keep them from working together and to go forward in the middle of any DIFFICULTIES.

    INTRO:

    1. In many ways, the church at Rome was very much like this church.
      1. It was very small (even smaller than this one?)
        1. Four households (families)
        2. Plus 26 individuals, 3 of which were kin to Paul
      2. They did not even have a building (home of Priscillia & Aquila)
      3. They were facing some very severe problems in such a small group.
        1. Cpt 1, fleshly sins of fornication & sodomy
        2. Cpt 2, hypocritical judges, “thou art inexcusable…”
        3. Cpts 3-5, O.T. law keepers (circumcisers)
        4. Cpts 6-7, weak, carnal Christians (flesh vs. spirit)
        5. Cpt 8, persecution & suffering -> apostasy (18,35)
        6. Cpts 9-11, antisemitism & bigotry (11:11,18)
        7. Cpt 12, egotism & lack of unity, cliques (5)
        8. Cpt 13, rebellous “social gospel” refused government
        9. Cpts 14-15, “Kosher” food inspectors put down others
        10. Cpt 16, Paul sent a WOMAN as pastor! (Phoebe)
      4. Illustration: They probably felt like a man I once heard of:
        1. Off the edge of Grand Canyon, hanging onto a small limb, “HELP!”
        2. “Yes.” came reply from top. — “Can you help me?”
        3. “Yes. Do you believe? Do you have faith?” — “YES!”
        4. “Then turn losse of the bush and everything will be fine.”
        5. LONG pause…. “Is anyone ELSE up there?”
    2. But they were so important in the eyes of God that He directed Paul

      to write a letter to them that some have called, “the most profound writing in existance today!”

    3. Paul showed them that they were serving the MASTER of problem solving
    4. They had DIVISION in the church:
    5. This is a common problem even today
      1. But, “A house divided against a house falleth” (Lu 11:17)
      2. Paul said that envy and strife were the causes of such division and that it was a sign of carnality (1 Co 3:3)
    6. The ministry of Jesus also revealed division, however
      1. “And there was much murmuring among the people concerning him: for some said, He is a good man: others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.” (John 7:12)
      2. “So there was a division among the people because of him.” (Jn 7:43)
    7. But division should not stop the work of God!
      1. “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division: (Luke 12:51)
      2. The text says, 17 “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”
    8. Most churches have divisive elements but they work in SPITE of it.

      2

    II. There were some who had LEFT the assembly

    1. There are always some who will fall back into the old ways
      1. Tempted by the prevalence of sin in the world
      2. Drawn away by their lusts
    2. It starts with simpler (less condemning) things
      1. Consistentant fault-finding
      2. “Holier than thou” attitudes
      3. Judgement upon all others not like self
      4. Backbiting and accusations
      5. Bitterness, resentfulness, vengefulness
      6. Selfness & rebellion
    3. These were all things that Paul wrote to Rome about
    4. Paul reminded the faithful that their obedience was know abroad!
      1. God knows His own and records their works.
      2. No one likes a talebearer or backbiter
    5. The KEY: “wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil”

    III. They had the promise of IMMINENT VICTORY

    1. There was no evidence of victory now (but the promise is sure)
    2. There may be many more battles before the war is over.
    3. Remember: Our foe is already defeated!
      1. “Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.” (Luke 10:19)
      2. “Who [or what] shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:35)
        • Our greatest peril is INTERNAL rather than external!
      3. “Whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world” (1 Jn 5:4)
      4. “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” (Revelation 3:21)
    4. Paul’s shipwreck, “Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be

      saved.” (Acts 27:31)

    5. “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ [be] with you. Amen.” (Romans 16:20)

    CONCLUSION:

    1. Work for God in spite of problems (even when people backslide)
    2. Determine not to listen to those who teach divisive things
    3. Commit to be, “wise unto good & simple concerning evil”
    4. Anticipate the victory over Satan — VERY SOON!

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